"So," Kel said, leading Blood Night to a more comfortable area of the laboratory where two ergonomic chairs were positioned in front of one of the giant screens. "Before we start our official partnership, I need to know my new... boss better."
Blood Night settled into the chair as if it were a throne, adjusting his posture to project maximum authority. The chair, equipped with advanced sensors, immediately adjusted to his anatomy, providing perfect support.
"That's more like it," he murmured, clearly impressed with the comfort. "Ask whatever you want, young Alfred. But remember: some secrets are sacred even for interns."
Kel grabbed a tablet and sat in the chair beside him, assuming a posture that mixed scientific curiosity with professionalism.
"First question: what's your real name?"
The answer came without hesitation:
"A00."
Kel paused, looking up from the tablet.
"That... that's a name?"
"Of course it is," Blood Night responded with absolute naturalness. "It's my name."
"A-zero-zero," Kel repeated slowly, as if testing the sound. "Your parents really called you A00?"
"No idea. I don't remember my parents."
"But you must have a birth certificate, documents..."
"Kel," Blood Night interrupted with a tone that suggested the subject wasn't open for discussion. "A00 is my name. Period. Next question."
Kel made some notes on the tablet, clearly intrigued, but decided not to press.
"Alright. Second question: what's your heroic phrase? Every hero has a signature phrase."
This time, Blood Night straightened even more in the chair, assuming a dramatic pose.
"I am justice and you are the law."
Kel blinked several times.
"That's... that's new to me. I didn't quite understand the logic, but... it's striking."
"It's profound," Blood Night corrected. "People simply don't have enough intellect to comprehend the philosophy behind the words."
"Right..." Kel continued typing. "Third question: what's your origin? What were you like as a child? What kind of family did you have?"
Blood Night remained silent for a long moment, looking at one of the screens without really focusing on it.
"I don't remember being a child. My first clear memories are from when I was eighteen years old."
"What do you mean you don't remember?"
"Exactly that. I remember things from when I was eighteen onward. Everything before that is... empty."
Kel leaned forward, genuinely interested.
"Empty how? Trauma? Accident? Selective amnesia?"
"Empty as in empty," Blood Night responded with a hint of irritation. "There's nothing to remember. It's as if my life began at eighteen."
The boy made more notes, this time more intensely.
"This is extremely rare. Total amnesia of childhood and adolescence, but perfect memories from a specific age... Have you investigated this? Consulted doctors?"
"Next question," Blood Night said dryly.
Kel understood the message and continued.
"What's the best thing you've ever done in your life?"
This time, Blood Night's face lit up with a genuine smile - the first Kel had seen since they met.
"Humiliating A01 and A02."
"A01 and A02?" Kel repeated, surprised. "There are others with names similar to yours?"
"There were," Blood Night corrected, and there was a dark satisfaction in his voice. "They thought they were superior to me. That they were stronger, smarter, more important. I proved them wrong."
"What did you do to them?"
"What they deserved," was all Blood Night said, but the tone carried enough weight for Kel to decide not to insist.
"Okay... fifth question: what exactly is your superpower? I saw you bringing darkness, but I'd like to understand the details better."
Now Blood Night was in his element. He got up from the chair and began gesturing dramatically.
"I bring the night for exactly eight seconds. During those eight seconds, I become part of the darkness. I'm invisible, untouchable, invincible. I can move without making a sound, attack without being detected, and disappear without leaving traces."
"Fascinating," Kel murmured, typing quickly. "But are there limitations? Can you use it as many times as you want?"
"There are... restrictions," Blood Night admitted reluctantly. "If I use it many times in sequence, I become temporarily exhausted. And it only works when there's sunlight to be replaced. During natural night, the power is useless."
"Interesting. An ability that manipulates the presence of sunlight..." Kel paused, thoughtful. "Do you have any idea how you developed this ability?"
"I've always had it. It's part of who I am."
"Always since eighteen?"
Blood Night stared at him with irritation.
"Always since I can remember."
Kel decided to try a different approach.
"Sixth question: do you have any specific goal? Any greater plan beyond... saving people?"
"To become recognized as the greatest hero of all time," Blood Night responded without hesitation. "I want my name to be spoken with reverence. I want statues, parades, national holidays. I want children to dream of growing up to be like me."
"And how do you plan to achieve that?"
"By doing great heroic deeds. Defeating powerful villains. Saving the city from epic threats."
Kel nodded slowly.
"Makes sense. And what about your combat technique? Did you have formal training?"
"I'm self-taught. Everything I know I learned in practice."
"Seventh question: do you have any moral code? Rules you follow?"
"I eliminate criminals to protect innocents. It's simple and effective."
"But don't you consider non-lethal alternatives?"
Blood Night looked at him as if Kel had suggested something completely absurd.
"Why complicate things? A dead criminal never reoffends. Statistically, it's the most efficient solution."
Kel made more notes, clearly disturbed by the simplistic logic, but trying to maintain scientific neutrality.
"Last question for now: what do you expect from our partnership?"
Blood Night returned to the chair, once again assuming his majestic posture.
"I want you to help me be more efficient. Better equipment, better strategies, greater impact. I want you to document my deeds for posterity. And I want you to help me find challenges worthy of my caliber."
"Challenges?"
"Real villains, Kel. Threats that test my limits. Enemies that make my victory seem even more epic."
Kel saved all the notes on the tablet and leaned back in the chair, processing everything he had heard.
"It's an... interesting profile," he said finally.
"It's a winning profile," Blood Night corrected. "Now, enough questions. Time to see what your laboratory can do for me."
**[M.L.P - Multiverse: Forbidden Legacy]**